Frame member for automobiles.



NI. W. GARTSHORE. FRAM E MEMBER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. I915.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

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MATTHEW W. GARTSHORE, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

FRAME MEMBER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, MATTHEW W. GART- snonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Frame Members for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention. relates to pressed-steel frames for automobiles or like purposes, and more particularly to an improved channeled-beam member therefor, as hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the method and means employed in manufacturing the same, and the novel features of which are specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my finished frame member in selected form, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same on the line 22 of Fig. 1; the several parts of a press mechanism employed in shaping the member being diagrammatically indi cated in each figure in their final forming positions relative to the member. Figs. 3 and 1 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 re spectively, showing the angle-iron bar, and relative positions of the press mechanism, preliminary to the first pressing operation. Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views showing positions preliminary to the final web-bending operation indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

My improved frame member, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is of channel cross-section throughout its length, though varied in proportional dimensions of the top and bottom flanges 2 and 3, and of the web portion, as may be desired; said flanges however cliffering in their corner formation, the top flange 2 having a relatively sharp outer corner 5 and a filleted inner corner 6, while the bottom flange 3 is rounded at its exterior corner 7, concentric with its interior rounding 8. This differing top and bottom flange construction has the advantage of providing a flat top flange having a full-width outer surface and a reinforced corner, which better adapts it for properly seating and rigidly supporting any required attachments thereto, while also giving increased lateral and transverse strength to the beam. In addition it enables the frame member to be satisfactorily formed with great economy of material and labor, as will appear in con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 24, 1915. Serial No. 29,946.

sidering the method of manufacture which I employ, which method will be readily understood by reference to the drawings.

The desired top flange 2, is commonly formed as an arm of a rolled angle-iron, and I employ as a blank a proper length of such a bar, having the desired size of arm to form the flange 2, and another arm of required depth to form the web 41 and lower flange 3 at the greatest cross-section of the finished frame member. To provide for the reduced cross-section shown at the end portions of the member, I cut away portions of the web arm to produce the tapered form indicated in full lines in Fig. 1 and in mid cross-section in Fig. 2. This reduced angle-iron blank is placed in a press comprising, as indicated in the drawings, four main portions: (1) a fixed bed piece a, and (2) a relatively adjustable bed piece 5, between which parts the web arm of the blank is held as indicated in Fig. 1; (3) a movable head piece 0; and (4) a flanging piece d movable at right angles to the head piece. As shown the coacting faces 6 of the head piece and 7?" of the bed pieces a and b, are shaped so as to give a drop-frame form to the blank when the head piece is forced down; the blank being thus bent edge-wise of its web arm 4, and the latter moving downward between the abutting bed pieces a and b, which are spaced apart so as to permit such movement while effectually preventing buckling. The thickness of the bed pieces a. and I) being made to correspond with the height of the web of the finished member at all points of its length, the depending portion of the web arm t is bent to form the bottom flange 3, by transverse movement of the flanging piece (Z of the press. The adjustable bed piece 6 may tightly clamp the interposed web 4 during this operation, and be subsequently shifted so as to permit removal of the completely formed frame member.

It will be seen that only an insignificant amount of material is wasted in forming my improved member; that the material used is distributed to great advantage for the securing of requisite rigidity, and so as to provide full-width faces for securing attachments to the member; and that the forming operations are simple, positive, and economical. These operations may be performed close to the rolling mill in which the angle-iron blank is made, and the retained heat of the rolled bar be thus utilized in effecting the operations with greater economy.

What I claim is:

1. A channeled beam member for automobile frames or the like having a web portion which varies in Width at different portions of the length of the member, an upper flange which joins said web with a sharp outer corner and a filleted inner corner, and a lower flange which joins said web with a rounded outer corner.

2. A channeled beam member for automobile frames or the like formed from a rolled angle-iron bar having a sharp outer corner and a filleted inner corner, the web of said bar being reduced in width adjacent its ends and the edge portion thereof being bent at substantially right angles to the plane of its main portion and forming a rounded corner.

3. A channeled beam member for automobile frames or the like formed from a rolled angle-iron bar having a sharp outer corner and a filleted inner corner, said bar being bent edgewise of its web arm and the latter being reduced in width adjacent its ends and having its edge portion bent at substantially right angles to the plane of its main portion to form a rounded corner.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MATTHEWV W. GARTSHORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

